Ball game.



R. J. TRUMBULL.

BALL G'AME.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 23, 1912.

1,096,208. Pa ented May 12, 1914.

W 055555 [five/770W MMM.

UNITED STATES PATENT @FFEQE.

ROBERT J. TRUIVIBULL, OF SAN RAFAEL, CALIFORNIA.

BALL GAME.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ROBERT J. TRUi BUnL, a citizen of the United States, residlng 1n the city of San Rafael, county of Marin, State of'Oalifornia, have invented a new and useful Ball Game, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to ball games wherein a target of suitable design is suspended or supported, in substantially a vertical position, and is provided with a plurality of apertures and movable slides, the said slides being movably mounted in vertical guides secured to the back of the target on either side of the apertures in such a manner that the movable slides held therein are visible through the apertures from the front of the said target. l'Vhen the target is set the lower portions only of the slides are visible through the said apertures, said lower portions beingof the same color as the face of the target. The slides are adapted to be released by the impact of a missile projected through the apertures in the target and, by dropping a short distance, display a color on the upper portion of the slide so released, the color so displayed being dissimilar from that of the face of the target, and thereby indicate the success of the player whose object is to dislodge the said slides.

The object of my invention is to provide amusement and to develop the skill of the players in throwing balls.

With these several objects in view I have designed and invented the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of the target supported by an easel. Fig. 2 is a rear view of the target, disclosing the vertical guides secured thereto and the movable slides within the guides, also the fingers for retaining the slides against the supporting pins and the pins for arresting the downward movement of the said slides. Fig. 3 is a broken horizontal sectional View taken through one of the apertures of the target showing the guides, the slides within the guides and the fingers which hold the slides on the retaining pins and against the rear.

face of the target. Fig. 4 is a broken vertical sectional view taken through one of the apertures in the target disclosing the retain-' ing pin by which the slide is held suspended in its upper position and the stop pin for arresting the downward movement of the slide. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 23, 1912.

PatentedMay 12, 1914. Serial No. 721,972.

with the slide shown in its lower position, resting on the lower stop pin. Fig. 6 is a front elevation of one of the slides removed from the target illustrating the colored portion and the depression for the suspension of the slide near the upper portion thereof.

The numeral 1 is used to designate a target of any suitable design havin eyelets 2 secured to the upper portion thereof so that the target may be suspended. The target 1 is also provided with a number of apertures 3. Secured to the rear of the target 1 are guides l mounted on either side of each of the aper' tures 3. Vertically reciprocating slides 5, having portions 6 colored differently from the color of the face of the target 1 and recesses or depressions 7 near the upper portion of the said slides 5, are mounted within the guides 4:. A pin 8, secured to the rear face of the target 1, is adapted to engage the upper edge of the depression 7 near the upper portion of the slide 5 and maintain the said slide in such a position that the colored portion 6 thereof is held out of sight and above the aperture 3. A finger 9 is pivoted as at 9 to a bar 10 secured to the guides a. A stop pin 12 is secured to the rear face of the target 1 below the slide 5 for the purpose of arresting the downward movement of the said slide 5.

The game consists of the operation of the target in the following manner: The target 1 is mounted on an easel A of suitable design or may be suspended by means of the eyelets 2 in substantially a vertical position. The players, from a distance, throw balls in the direction of the target 1, the object of the players being to strike the slides 5 behind the apertures 8. Should a player succeed in throwing a ball into one of the apertures 3, the impact of the ball against the slide 5 would dislodge the same from the upwardly retaining pin 8 and also move the retaining finger 9 away from the rear face of the said slide 5 and permit the same to drop until its downward movement is arrested by the lower supporting pin 12. This downward movement of the slide 5 brings the colored portion 6 of the slide 5 into the view of the player and indicates that a score The fingers 9 are frictionally held by the pins 9', instead of freely pivoted, against the back of the slides 5 so that the said lingers 9 will retain the slides 5 upon the supporting pins 8. When the front of the slide 5 is struck by a ball the impact will move the finger 9 away from the said slide 5 and permit the same to drop. After all of the slides 5 have been dislodged by the players the said slides are again returned to their upper positions and the game is continued. as hereinbefore described. The value of the score made by dislodging one of the slides depends upon the position or" the slide so dislodged relatively to the center of the target, the central slide giving the greatest score to the player who first succeeds in dislodging the same by throwing a. ball through the aperture in front of that particular slide.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Lettors Patent is- 1. A target of suitable design having a plurality of apertures, movable slides having a colored portion thereon secured to the back of the target and adapted to drop and display a color when struck with a ball projected through the said apertures, a pin secured to the back of the target and adapted to engage and retain the slides in their upper positions and means for holding the slides on the retaining pins until struck with a ball projected through one of the apert-ures.

2. A target of suitable design having a plurality of apertures, upper and lower retainin pins and guides secured to the back thereo l vertically movable slides mounted within the said guides and having a colored portion and a depression near the top of the said slides and fingers adapted to hold the slides on the upper retaining pins until the said slides are struck with a ball projected through the apertures in the target.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT J. TRUMBULL.

Witnesses ARTHUR L. l/Vrirrn, JAMES F. MCGUE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

